Chinese tile game device



April 21, 1925. 1,534,805

` F. 1.. oRDwAY CHINESE TILE GAME DEVCE Filed Feb. 5- 1924 Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. ORDWAY, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PARKER BROS., INC., 0F SALEM, MASSAOHUSETTS, A GQRPORATION QF MAINE.

CHINESE TILE GAME DEVICE.

Application filed February 5, 1924. Serial No. 690,733.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK L. ORDWAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented` an Improvement in Chinese rlile Game Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the draw ings representing like parts.

This invention aims to provide an improved device for use in playing Chinese tile games.

In the drawings, which show a preferred form of one embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a plan view of a device for holding tiles and counters, the tiles in lace on the rack during the progress o the game;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device and tile parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, with tiles, at the end of the game, the counter container uncovered and the rack tipped upwardly to show the faces of the tiles in the players concealed hand;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device and tiles in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2; y

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the device and tiles in the relative positions shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and to the preferred form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown a counter container 1, preferably formed of wooden molding and presenting a longitudinally extending groove of substantial depth provided with transverse partitions which divide the groove into compartments 2, herein shown as of varying length, tov hold counters 3- herein shown as sticks of varying length and/or color as ordinarily used in Chinese tile gaines. The ends of the container 1 are preferably of sheet form and of relatively strong and stiff material, providing at one side of the container and at each end thereof rojecting portions which extend to one si e of and above the level of the top of the container 1. Be tween these extensions, I have pivotally mounted a rack 5 which holds the tiles 6 ordinarily used in playing Chinese tile games. i

'When the rack is in its down position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the tiles thereon are concealed from the players other than the one behind the rack. The container 1 is provided with a cover 10, which during the progress of the game covers the counters and is in adjacency to the front of. the rack, providing a shelf on which tiles to be exposed during the progress of the game may be laid. yThis cover is so mounted that at the end of the game it may be swung forwardly to permit access to the counters in the container, without disturbing the exposed tiles on the top of the cover. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the cover 10 remains in a generally horizontal plane during the entire movement thereof from the closed position shown in Fig. 4 to the open position shown in Fig. 6, being mounted at each end on pairs of parallel links 9, 9 of equal effective length between their respective pivots on the ends of the top 10 and on the ends of the container 1, thereby providing for parallel motion of the cover when manually opened and closed. The cover is preferably provided with two knobs 10 at each end thereof. Each of knobs may be mounted upon the same pivot with one of the links 9. Movement of the cover may be most easily eiected by placing the thumbs in the rack adjacent the ends thereof and then placing the forengers on the knobs 10 (or on the ends of the cover), when a slight forward movement of the forefingers will move the cover of the container to its opened position.

The rack 5, pivoted between the up standing projections 4 of the ends of the container may conveniently be swung to the position shown in Fig. 5, after opening of the container, by grasping a suitable knob 11. The rack will remain in elevated position because held, preferably frictionally, between the more or less springlike projec tions 4 from the ends of the container. The weight and wide base presented by the container will prevent the device as a whole from being tipped over.

I will now describe the use of the device. .At the start of the game, the player places his tiles upon the rack, where they are concealed from the other players, as best shown in Figs. l, 2 and The Cover ot trie counter container is Closed until the gaine is finished. Duringr the game the player may have oceasion to transfer some of the tiles from the racl; to the top otl the Cover so that sueh tiles will be exposed to the other players face np- Ward. Then the gaine has been completed and the player is to compute his score, shoivingthe other players what he has in his concealed hand (on the rael':)y he iii-st opens the counter Container, preferably by moving forward y the cover thereof with his forelingers, meanwhile holding the rack with his thumbs, and then tips up the rael; 5 by a slight lifting on the knob ll, until his Concealed hand is exposed as best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and G.

After Computation of the an'iount to be ieeeived or paid, as the ease may be, appropriate additions to or removals from the eountersin the container may be in ade. The opening ot the container has not necessitated any movement olthe tiles constituting the exposed portion of the hand` relative to the top of the container which serves as a shelt' for their support.

Thilo i have shovrn and deseribed a preferred lforni of one embodiment of niy invention, fit Will be understood that changes involving omission, .substitution7 alteration and reversal of parts, and even rhanges in the inode of operation, may be incide withoutdeparting` from the scope oil my invention, which is best deined in the following Claims.

Claims:

l. A device for use with Chinese tile games Comprising, in Combination, a cena-iner for counters` a removable top therefor presenting an upper surface Jfor holding' exposed tiles, Connections between said tolJ and said `container providing for inaintaininpy said top in generally horizontal position during movement of said top to open and Close said container, and a rack at that side of said container toward the player presenting a ledge for holdingconcealed tiles, said rack pivoted relative to said container and tiltable to permit exposure of the tiles normally concealed thereon.

2. A device for use with Chinese tile gaines comprising, in. combination, a Container for counters, a removable top therefor presenting an upper surface lor holding exposed tiles, connections between said top and said container providing` for maintain` ing' said top in generally horizontal position during` movement of said top to open and Close said eontainer, and a rael; at that side of said container toward the player presenting a ledge for holding concealed tiles, said rack pivoted relative to said eontaineriand liltable to permit exposure ot the tiles noi'- inally concealed thereon, and said rack presenting an inclined tile-holding surface on which trie thumbs ot' the player may rest during` shifting` ot the top ol said container by his forelingers.

3. A device for use with hinese tile graines comprising', in `eonibination, a een tainer i'or counters, a playing rackA lorholding` tiles pivoted uponextended` sides ot said container, a cover 'for said container and connections providing;- tor movement ot said cover in a` `eenei'allyhoizontal plane relative to saideontainer.

4. A device for use With Chinese vtile games comprising', in combination, a container for counters, a playing` rack for holding ,tiles pivoted upon extended sides or' said rontainer, a Cover for said Container and a plurality of linlsrpivoted upon said cover and .said rooinLainer to provide for movement of said eover in a generally horizontal plane relative to said container.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this speeiiication.

FRANK L. ORDVY. 

